Jose Mourinho says football will miss Lionel Messi after the 39-year-old announced his decision to end his international career with Argentina.
The Real Madrid head coach was asked about Messi’s departure from the national side and responded: “We will miss Messi”.
Messi confirmed his decision on 31 August, bringing an end to his career with Argentina’s senior team. The forward had represented his country since 2005, making his international involvement a significant part of his football career.
Mourinho’s comments came in response to the announcement by the Argentina captain, who is now 39 years old. The Real Madrid manager’s assessment underlined the significance of Messi’s absence from the national team and the wider impact of his decision.
Messi first played for Argentina in 2005 and remained part of the national side for more than two decades. His announcement therefore marks the conclusion of a long international association that began when he was a teenager.
The information released about the decision confirms that Messi intends to bring his international career to a close. It does not state that he is retiring from football altogether. His announcement relates specifically to his future with Argentina.
For Mourinho, the departure means Argentina and international football will no longer include one of the most recognisable players of his generation. His brief reaction focused on the sense of loss created by Messi’s decision, rather than offering further detail about the reasons behind it.
Messi’s career with Argentina began in 2005 and continued until his announcement on 31 August. That period places his international service at the centre of the story, with the forward having represented the country across a substantial span of his professional life.
Mourinho, speaking as Real Madrid manager, was answering a question about the decision. His words “We will miss Messi” provide the main response reported after the announcement.
The decision also closes the current chapter of Messi’s relationship with Argentina’s national team. He will no longer be expected to continue that role at international level, while the football world assesses the significance of his absence.
No further details have been given in the report about Messi’s plans beyond his international career. The confirmed information is that the 39-year-old has announced his departure from Argentina, ending an association that began in 2005.
Mourinho’s response captures the immediate reaction: Lionel Messi’s international presence will be missed. For Argentina, that means the end of his time with the national side; for football more broadly, it marks the loss of a familiar figure from the international game.
